Ice-cream dispenser



Dec. 30, 1924. 1,520,763

5. .D. MILLER ICE CREAM DISPENSER Filed Dec. 5, 1921 Patented Dec. 3%,1924.

UNITED STATES 1,520,763 Parent oFF-ICE.

BENJAMIN D. hIILLER, OF VVOGSTER, OHIO.

IGE-CREAIVI Application filed December To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN D. MILLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at l Vooster, in the county of Wayne and State of Ohio, haveinvented a new and useful lceCream Dispenser, of which the follow ing isa specification.

My invention relates to devices for dispensing ice cream from largereceptacles to small ones, and its principal object is to provide asimple and efi'icient means for dipping ice cream from receptacleswherein it is stored, and dispensing the same in small and measuredquantities to customers, and to make the dispensing thereof moresanitary and easier than heretofore.

It consists of the novel device and mechanism hereinafter fully setforth and stated in the appended claim.

My invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings in whichsimilar letters and figures of reference indicate like parts.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is an exterior side view of a deviceembodying my invention; Fig. 2 is avertical and longitudinal section ofFig. 1 on the dotted line 22; Fig. 8 is a detail view of an auxiliarymeans for swiping oil the cream from the dispensing cup, detachedtherefrom; and Fig. 4 is a lateral cross section of Fig. 1 on the dottedline 33.

In the drawings, A and B are hollow tubes having telescopic relation toeach other, the member A being closely fitted to slide reciprocallywithin the tube B. C is a terminal cup integral with the lower end ofthe tube B, and open at its lower end C. E is a head or dispensing endof my device, comprising a flanged rim attached to the lower end of thetube A, and having a central opening into the tube for the upward escapeof air therethru, and fitted to reciprocate within the terminal cup Cfor the purpose of expelling ice cream therefrom, as hereafter stated. Fis a thumb latch, operable outwardly thru a slot G in the tube A bymeans of a spring f located within the tube, and adapted to engage anotch in the band 5 at the top of the tube B, when the tube A is drawnout to its limits. The latch has a two fold object-first, to hold thetube members A and B in extended relation while the cup end C ismanually pushed endwise into the mass of ice cream within the ice creamreceptacle wherein it is stored, and the flanged head E, as a pistonhead, is held DISPENSER.

5, 1921. Serial No. 526,148.

thereby from reciprocating within thecup; and, secondly, to impel thetube B to rotate with the rotation of the tube A, after'the cup memberhas been pushed into the mass of ice cream within the receptaclethereof, which rotary movement is essential to separating the creamwithin the cup from that within the receptacle, as hereafter stated.

The thumb-latch F fits snugly into the slots G and G, respectively, asan air tight stopper, and its lower edge extends outwardly and is fittedto engage any one of the several notches in the band 7) which surroundsthe upper end of the tube 13, for convenience in handling the device.

Said band and tube are also fitted to lie closely upon the tubularmember A, so as to practically prevent the passage of air between them,when operating in ice cream.

I am aware that air valves, for a similar purpose, have been heretoforeprovided, located in the top of the dispensing cup, and such I do notbroadly claim. Such arrangement is defective on account of theirnearness to the ice cream, which is liable to stop them up, and escapetherethru. I overcome these defects by locating the valve H at the topof the tube A, and making a continuous air duct therein opening directlythru the plunger head E into the dispensing cup G.

D is a ring of metal, which is mounted to reciprocate loosely over theouter surface of the cup C, and is provided with a series of rods (Z (Z,secured thereto, and adapted to lie snugly against the said outersurface of said cup, and in line therewith. By the rotation of saidmetal rim D the rods swipe off the ice cream that may lodge thereon, anddownward movement of the rim over said surface also aids inaccomplishing a like object.

But this feature is only of occasional use, and is not absolutelyessential to its use generally.

The air valve H, fitted to the top of the tube A. creates a suctiontherein when the dispensing cup C is being withdrawn from the mass ofice cream within the ice cream receptacle of storage. This valve actsautomatically. and effectually closes the upper end of the tube A.whereby the ice-cream within the cup is held therein. However, thisvalve is unnecessary where the ice cream is suficiently frozen toprevent running, as in such case the friction within the cup, whosewalls are parallel, is sufficient to retain the ice cream therein untilforced out by the action of the piston head E.

Measurement of the ice cream is determined by the size of the dispensingcup C, which may be made of any size or shape desired to suit the trade,the normal standard being one quart. To adapt the device to lessermeasures, I provide a secondary slot G in the body of the tube B, fittedto engage the thumb latch F at F (Fig. 1), thereby holding the pistonhead at the intermediate position within the cup at E while the cup ispushed into the mass of ice cream, the handle on the end of tube A being, in such case moved down in the direce tion of the arrow m to theintermediate position a Other predetermined measurements may be made inlike manner.

The operation of my device is as follows The tubular members A and Bbeing drawn apart to their limits, the thumb latch F engages one of' thenotches 0, whereby said members are held in extended relation, and

I rotary movement of one upon the other is created by the air valve H.To discharge the ice cream from the dispensing cup C, the tubular memberB is grasped by the other hand of the operator immediately op posite thethumb latch F, which, being pressed down, permits the member A totelescope within the tubular member B, thereby pushing out the ice creamfrom the cup by action of the piston head E to its limits at E at thebottom C of the dispensing cup.

This pressure may also be utilized to compress the dispensed creamwithin ordinary ice cream cartons, and, for the purpose, the dispensingcup may be either cylindrical or angular, the piston head being shapedto conform thereto, and the dispensed mass may be shaped either in brickform or otherwise, as may be desired.

I am also aware that a plunger rod, engaging a plunger head,has'heretofore been constructed to reciprocate thru a stem, and movementtherein limited by means of a manually operable pin-stop passing thrusaid rod, and such I do not claim broadly. In such case the means foractuating the pin-stop are necessarily outside of the apparatus, exposedto view, and difiicult to handle, and too expensive for general use. Inmy device a latch is driven outwardly from within the tubular stem, andis adapted thereby to engage any one of a series of notches in the topof the outer tubular member, and also to act as a stopper of air, as

In a device of the character described, the

combination with a tubular body; a dispensing cup on one end of saidbody, opening outwardly; a rim-surrounding the other end of said body,having a series of notches therein; a tubular shaft longer than saidbody, and fitted to reciprocate closely Within said rim; a disk on thelower end of said tubular shaft, having a central opening and fitted toreciprocate within said dispensing cup; an air valve closing the top ofsaid tubular shaft; a handle at the upper end of said shaft; alongitudinal slot in said shaft opposite said rim notches when drawn outto its limits, and a spring actuated bar mounted within said tubularshaft carrying a thumbfllatch, said'latch fitted to register closelywith said longitudinal slot, and

adapted to engage any one of said notches,

automatically, substantially as set forth and BEN D. MILLER.

In presence of two witnesses:

HIRAM SWARTZ, WALTER J. MoNeEY.

